JPH06268711A - Line controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a line controller for controlling originating and incoming so as to improve data communication efficiency between a center terminal and plural terminals. CONSTITUTION:When processing request comes from a terminal equipment B while the center terminal equipment 2 and a terminal equipment A are in communication, a communication control part 7 sends an under communication incoming report to a requested information receiving part 9 by the under- communication incoming reporting function of an INS network 64 and a requested information storage part 10 stores the under-communication incoming report as requested information S including the telephone number and the activating program or the processing name of a processing requirement terminal. At the time point of finishing communication with the terminal equipment A, a processing control part 11 fetches the telephone number of requested information stored in the requested information storage part 10 to send it in an originating/incoming control part 8 and instructs originating operation to the communication control part 7, which connects an INS line with a terminal equipment B4b to start communication processing.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a line control device connected to an INS network, and more particularly, between a center terminal device such as a general-purpose computer and a plurality of terminal devices connected via the INS network. The present invention relates to a line control device that controls data transfer performed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, information processing in an advanced information society has been accelerated by the development of computers, and it has become possible to transfer data held by various terminal devices to each other using a public line. A user can collect desired data and perform information processing based on the collected information.

Conventionally, data transfer is performed by connecting a general-purpose computer and a terminal device, or a small-to-medium-scale computer and an inexpensive data entry terminal by a telephone line or the like. For center terminals such as general-purpose computers and small and medium-sized computers,
It is necessary to always be able to receive a processing request for data transferred from each terminal device via a communication line. However, the communication line between the center terminal and the terminal device is not installed exclusively for each terminal, and one communication line is used to process data from a plurality of terminal devices by circuit switching. .

For example, when data is transferred from a plurality of terminal devices to the center terminal, the transmission processing is performed from each terminal device using the idle time of one communication line, so that the plurality of terminal devices can be processed in a short time. A system that transfers data continuously has been adopted. That is, the terminal device sends a call to the center terminal, and if connected, transfers data,
If you are in communication, check the time and make a call again.
The transmission time to the center terminal is determined in advance for each terminal device, and transmission is performed at the determined time for data transfer.

At present, the public telecommunications networks in use include the above-mentioned public telephone network, a subscription telecommunications network and a digital data exchange network, each of which is constructed individually.

On the other hand, in order to efficiently respond to the diversification of telecommunication services such as data communication, facsimile, or video data communication, it is effective to construct a network capable of economically providing a plurality of different telecommunication services.

Therefore, in recent years, the digitization of networks has become technically feasible. Therefore, by handling the information transmission of each service in a uniform form of digital signals, a plurality of different services can be handled by one subscriber. It has become possible to realize "combining services" handled by lines.
Such a communication network is an integrated service digital network (ISD).
N).

An advanced information communication system (INS: Information) which integrates communication services based on this ISDN
Network System) has been proposed, and "INS Net 64" is provided as a basic interface and "INS Net 1500" is provided as a primary group speed interface. For example, the INS net 64 has two B channels and one D channel, and outgoing / incoming processing is executed via the D channel, and after this outgoing / incoming processing, data communication is executed via the B channel. It Further, the INS net 64 provides an in-communication incoming call notification service for notifying an in-communicating terminal of an incoming call from another terminal by utilizing an empty D-channel during data communication via the B-channel.

[0009]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, when a plurality of terminal devices make a call to the center terminal to transfer data, each terminal device uses the idle time of one communication line. Since it is configured to perform the outgoing call processing from the above, there are problems as described below.

That is, when the center terminal and the predetermined terminal device are already communicating with each other as described above, it is necessary to perform the calling process from the other terminal devices to the center terminal many times, which is troublesome. There was a problem.

In the case of making a call at a time determined for each terminal device, if there is some inconvenience on the side of the center terminal or the terminal device and the call cannot be made within the allotted time, the center terminal is called. There is a problem that it is time-consuming to contact and change the predetermined calling time.

As described above, in any of the above cases, there is a problem that the user has to take some measures, which is troublesome and the efficiency of use of the line is poor, so that the data cannot be transferred promptly. It was

An object of the present invention is to provide a line control device for controlling outgoing / incoming calls so as to improve the data communication efficiency between a center terminal and a plurality of terminals.

[0014]

The means of the present invention are as follows.

In a line control device in which a center terminal and a plurality of terminals are connected via an INS network and which controls data transfer between the terminals, the line control device is connected to the INS network and transfers data between the terminals. Communication control means for performing necessary communication control, and information reception for receiving processing request information for another center terminal from another terminal by means of an incoming call notification function provided by the INS network during communication between the center terminal and a predetermined terminal. Means, an information storage means for storing the processing request information received by the information receiving means, and the information storage means stored when the INS network becomes available after the communication between the center terminal and the predetermined terminal is completed. And a call origination process activation means for activating a call origination process to the request source terminal that has received the process request information.

[0016]

The operation of the means of the present invention is as follows.

According to the present invention, the communication control means uses the IN
Communication control necessary for data transfer between a center terminal connected to the S network and a plurality of terminals is performed, and another function is provided by the incoming call notification function provided by the INS network during communication between the center terminal and a predetermined terminal. The processing request information for the center terminal is received from the terminal by the information receiving means, the processing request information received by the information receiving means is stored in the information storage means, and the communication between the center terminal and the predetermined terminal is completed.
When the NS network becomes available, the originating process activation means activates the originating process to the request source terminal that has received the process request information stored in the information storage means.

That is, for example, a terminal device such as a plurality of personal computers or a data entry terminal is connected to a center terminal such as a general-purpose computer or a small-to-medium-scale computer via an INS line. When data is transferred from the terminal device to the center terminal, the terminal device performs an outgoing call process to the center terminal,
The NS line is connected between both terminals, and processing such as data transfer is performed. If a processing request such as data transfer is issued from another terminal device during this communication, the receiving process cannot be immediately performed because the INS line is not idle. However, the processing request information is registered on the center terminal side by using the communication incoming call notification function of receiving a processing request from another terminal device by utilizing the vacancy of the D channel after the communication control is performed by the INS net 64. To do. The registered processing request information indicates that the communication between the center terminal and the terminal device, which was previously in communication, is completed and the INS
As soon as the line becomes available, the calling process is activated for the terminal device that has made the processing request.

As a result, the labor of the user is saved, the use efficiency of the line is improved, and the processing such as data transmission is automatically performed to the center terminal promptly.

[0020]

EXAMPLES Examples will be described below with reference to FIGS.

1 to 4 are diagrams showing an embodiment of an INS line control device according to the present invention.

First, the structure will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a line connection state in which a center terminal device and a terminal device are connected by an INS net 64. In FIG. 1, INS Net 6
The terminal devices connected by the four lines 1 are the center terminal device 2,
The communication control device 3, the terminal device 4, and the communication control device 5 are included.

The INS net 64 line 1 is a communication line by an advanced information communication system (INS) that integrates communication services based on ISDN. In this embodiment,
It is implemented by using the INS net 64 as a basic interface and has two B channels and one D channel. The B channel having a transmission rate of 64 Kbps is used for data transmission by circuit switching and B channel packet switching, and the D channel having a transmission rate of 16 Kbps is used for switching control signals and packet switching.
In this embodiment, since the INS net 64 is used,
The in-communication incoming call notification function described above is used.

The center terminal device 2 here is a host computer such as a general-purpose computer or a small-to-medium-scale computer.

The communication control device 3 is connected to the INS net 64 line 1 and controls the communication of the center terminal device 2.
The data transmission / reception process is executed.

The terminal device 4 is connected to the center terminal device 2 and the INS.
It is a facsimile machine, a personal computer, or the like connected via the network 64 line 1.

The communication control device 5 is connected to the INS net 64 line 1 and controls the communication of the terminal device 4 to execute data transmission / reception processing.

FIG. 2 uses the INS net 64 of FIG.
It is a figure which shows the state which connected the several terminal device with respect to one center terminal device. In FIG. 2, the center terminal device 2
Is connected to a plurality of terminal devices A4a and B4b via the INS net 64 circuit switch 6.

The INS Net 64 circuit switch 6 includes a center terminal device 2 of a host computer and a plurality of terminal devices 4.
a and 4b are connected in a one-to-n form.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an INS line controller 20 of the present invention, which corresponds to the communication controller of FIGS. 1 and 2. In FIG. 3, the INS line control device 20
The communication control unit 7, the outgoing / incoming call control unit 8, the request information receiving unit 9, the request information storage unit 10, and the processing control unit 11 are connected to the common bus 12.

The communication control unit 7 uses the INS Net 64 line 1
The communication is controlled according to a predetermined protocol of INS. Here, when a processing request transmitted from the terminal device 4 of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 arrives via the INS net 64 line 1, line connection is performed and an incoming call notification is transmitted to the outgoing / incoming call control unit 8. . In addition, when the communication control unit 7 receives a processing request from another terminal device during communication using the above-mentioned incoming call notification function, the previous communication is terminated and IN
When the S line is vacant, the originating / terminating control unit 8 activates a calling operation in accordance with an instruction from the processing control unit 11, and performs a line connection process to the requesting terminal device.

The outgoing / incoming call control unit 8 receives the incoming call notification from the communication control unit 7, and transmits this incoming call notification to the processing control unit 11 via the common bus 12. Further, when a processing request is received from another terminal device during communication using the in-communication incoming call notification function, the outgoing / incoming call control unit 8 terminates the previous communication and frees up the INS line. In accordance with the instruction of 11, the communication control unit 7 is instructed to initiate a call to the requesting terminal device.

The request information receiving unit 9 requests processing from another terminal device (eg, terminal device B) 4b during communication between the center terminal device 2 and a predetermined terminal device (eg, terminal device A) 4a. If there is, an in-communication incoming notification is sent from the communication control unit 7 by the in-communication incoming notification function of the INS net 64, is processed only into necessary processing request information, and is sent to the request information storage unit 10. It is a thing.

The request information storage unit 10 is a memory composed of a RAM or the like, and temporarily stores the process request information processed by the request information receiving unit 9.

The processing control unit 11 executes an incoming call process and an outgoing call activation process, which will be described later. For example, when the communication between the center terminal device 2 and the terminal device A is completed, the request information storage unit 1
It is checked whether or not an unprocessed request by the incoming call notification is stored in 0, and if the unprocessed request is stored, the telephone number of the terminal device B is extracted from the request information storage unit 10 The incoming call control unit 8 instructs the communication control unit 7 to make a call to the terminal device B.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, when a plurality of terminal devices 4a and 4b are connected to a center terminal device 2 such as a general-purpose computer via an INS network, the conventional configuration is as follows. When the terminal device A4a is connected to the center terminal device 2 and is in communication, the INS line is blocked even when the processing request is sent from the terminal device B4b to the center terminal device 2. Could not be connected to and processed. For this reason, conventionally, transmission processing is performed many times until the communication ends, and if the transmission time is predetermined, wait until the arrival of that time, or change the transmission time when it is not convenient. Had to notify.

In the case of the INS line controller of this embodiment,
Since the INS net 64 is used, it is possible to use the incoming call notification function during communication and the inter-user information notification function. By using these functions, the center terminal device 2 can communicate with other terminal devices during communication. The processing request information of can be received. The reception of the processing request information makes it possible to recognize that there is a processing request from a terminal device other than during communication and the terminal information of the processing request source.

The processing request information includes the starting program or the processing name that issued the connection request set on the terminal device side, and the incoming call notification includes the telephone number of the caller, which is the INS function. It is included.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

First, the incoming call operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 and the block diagram of FIG.

Now, the terminal device A4a is added to the center terminal device 2.
When there is an incoming call from, it is determined whether or not communication is in progress (step S1). Here, when the INS line is in an unused state, that is, when communication is not in progress, the terminal device A in FIG.
The request from 4a arrives at the communication control unit 7 from the INS net 64 line 1 in FIG. 3, connects the INS line to the terminal, and a normal communication process based on the incoming call is performed. Specifically, the communication control unit 7 sends an incoming call notification to the outgoing / incoming call control unit 8 and sends the incoming call notification to the processing control unit 11 via the common bus 12,
Communication processing is performed with respect to the host interface (step S2).

Therefore, when the center terminal device 2 and the terminal device A4a are communicating as described above, the line is not connected even if the terminal device B4b issues a connection request to the center terminal device 2. However, in this embodiment, if the terminal device B4b makes a processing request to the center terminal device 2 in communication (step S1), the INS net 64
The communication control section 7 shown in FIG.
Sends an incoming call notification to the request information receiver 9 (step S3).

The request information receiving unit 9 processes request information including the telephone number of the processing request terminal and the starting program or processing name as necessary information from the received incoming call notification, and the request information storage unit 10 To store (step S
4).

Next, the processing control section 11 executes the transmission start processing at the time point when the communication with the terminal device A4a which is currently communicating is completed. This transmission activation process will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, it is checked whether or not unprocessed request information is stored in the request information storage unit 10 (step S11). When the request information is stored, the telephone number stored in the request information storage unit 10 is read out and sent to the outgoing / incoming call control unit 8 (step S12), and the communication control unit 7 is instructed to perform a calling operation ( Step S13). The communication control unit 7 performs an INS line connection process with the terminal device B4b that receives the incoming call (step S14). Then, the boot program or process name is retrieved from the request information storage unit 10 and sent to the communication control unit 7 via the common bus 12, and the IN
Send to the terminal device B4b through the S line (step S1
5).

In response to this process, in the terminal device B4b, when the designated process is activated and the processing operation is started (step S16), the stored contents of the request information storage unit 10 are erased and this process is terminated (step S16). Step S17).

By the above-described call initiation process, in the center terminal device 2, after the communication with the terminal device A4a is completed, the process control section 11 operates as if there was an incoming call from the terminal device B4b, and notifies the upper interface. Communication processing is performed in the same manner as during normal reception. Since the request information stored in the request information storage unit 10 is erased at the time when the request information is transmitted to the upper interface, the request information storage unit 10 always stores only the unprocessed request information.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when the center terminal device and a plurality of terminal devices are connected using one INS line, the center terminal device and the predetermined terminal device are communicating. However, another terminal device can make a processing request to the center terminal device. Then, this processing request is registered in the center terminal device, and as soon as the previous communication is completed and the INS line becomes available, the registered process is started immediately. Therefore, it is as if between the center terminal device and a plurality of terminal devices. Therefore, it can be processed as if the circuit was switched without waste. This improves the efficiency of use of the line, and eliminates the need for repeating the calling process on the terminal device side, so that information can be transmitted promptly.

[0049]

According to the present invention, for example, a terminal device such as a plurality of personal computers or a data entry terminal is connected to a center terminal such as a general-purpose computer or a small-to-medium-scale computer via an INS line. Therefore, when data is transferred from these terminal devices to the center terminal, transmission processing is performed from the terminal device to the center terminal.
After the incoming call, the INS line is connected between both terminals, and processing such as data transfer is performed. If a processing request such as data transfer is issued from another terminal device during this communication, the processing request information is registered on the center terminal side using the incoming call notification function of the INS net 64. As for this registered processing request information, as soon as the communication between the center terminal and the terminal device that was previously communicating is completed and the INS line becomes available, the calling process is activated for the terminal device that issued the processing request. You can

Therefore, the labor of the user is saved, the use efficiency of the line is improved, and the processing such as the data transmission can be automatically performed to the center terminal automatically.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a center terminal device and a terminal device as INS Net 6
The figure which shows the line connection state connected in 4.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which a plurality of terminal devices are connected to one center terminal device using the INS net 64 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an INS line control device of the present invention corresponding to the communication control device of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an incoming call operation according to the present exemplary embodiment.

5 is a flowchart of a call origination processing program executed by the processing control unit of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 INS Net 64 Lines 2 Center Terminal Device 3 Communication Control Device 4 Terminal Device 4a Terminal Device A 4b Terminal Device B 5 Communication Control Device 6 INS Net 64 Line Switch 7 Communication Control Unit 8 Calling / Receiving Control Unit 9 Request Information Receiving Unit 10 Request Information storage unit 11 Processing control unit 12 Common bus 20 INS line control device

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A line control device in which a center terminal and a plurality of terminals are connected via an INS network to control data transfer between the terminals, the line control device being connected to the INS network and between the terminals. Communication control means for performing communication control necessary for data transfer, and a processing request information for the center terminal from another terminal by a communication incoming call notification function provided by the INS network during communication between the center terminal and a predetermined terminal. Information receiving means, information storage means for storing the processing request information received by the information receiving means, and storage in the information storage means when communication between the center terminal and a predetermined terminal is completed and the INS network becomes available A line control device comprising: a call origination process activation means for activating a call origination process to a request source terminal that has received the processed process request information.